5.Mechanics: The Actions of a Player

This is the summary of Emilio Padulo's Level Design Master Class.

· Definition

· Examples

· Physical – Mental – Control

1. Definition

· A game’s mechanics are the set of rules which govern how the game works.

· Challenges in a game generally come from applying those mechanics to certain situations.

Exp:

- Walking can be a mechanic.

- A maze is challenged based on that mechanic.

2. Examples

· Mechanics help explain things such as:

- What different entities are present in a game.

- What actions can they preform.

- How do they ineract with each other.

- What are the actions that the player can take to affect the behavior of these entities.

- What are the win/loss conditions.

· Mechanics at its base are actions taken by the player.

Some of these can be:

- Running

- Jumping

- Swimming

- Shooting

- Climbing

- Slicing

3. Physical – Mental – Control

· Physical:

-Timing: capability to anticipate moves.

- Reflex: reactions to a situation.

- Precision: sweet spot to succeed a certain action.

- Endurance: The ability to button smash and complete complex combos.

· Mental:

- Tactical strategy: strategy is a premeditated plan of attack before performing an action.

- Logical Association. Understanding and Linking patterns to create a bigger picture.

- Observation: a lean understanding of details.

· Control:

- Actions.

- Combinations: 2+ actions at any given time.